Labour Agreement Dispute Disrupts Operations At Rotterdam Terminal

Ships and trucks are being delayed due to a labour dispute at the Hutchison Ports Delta II Terminal in Rotterdam.

Workers at the terminal staged a strike on February 9 over unresolved contract negotiations, halting operations temporarily. While work resumed on February 11, slowdowns are still affecting cargo movements.

The dispute started from ongoing negotiations over a new collective labour agreement (CLA) between Hutchison Ports and two labour unions-FNV Havens and CNV.

The main issue revolves around severance payments and the lack of a financial guarantee from the company.

The Delta II terminal, which handles up to a quarter of Rotterdam’s container traffic, was previously owned by APM Terminals before being sold to Hutchison Ports in 2021.

Shortly after acquiring the terminal, Hutchison partnered with MSC’s TIL group to develop a new automated facility.

The new terminal, called Omega, is expected to begin operations in 2027 and will have five berths, making it one of the most advanced in Europe.

Unions began contract talks in November 2024, demanding financial guarantees and severance packages to secure workers’ futures, as automation at the upcoming terminal raised concerns about job security.

After months of discussions, a tentative agreement was reached on January 31, offering a three-year contract valid until 2028.

The deal included a one-time payment, annual wage increases of 1-1.5% and inflation adjustments. Hutchison also agreed to a severance package, but unions insisted on a written financial guarantee before finalising the agreement.

On January 20, CNV indicated that it was considering withdrawing from negotiations.

The unions issued a deadline of January 28 for a resolution, and after a marathon 29-hour negotiation session, a deal was announced on January 31.

However, when Hutchison failed to provide the financial guarantee by the February 10 deadline, tensions escalated.

By the evening of February 9, with no financial guarantee in place, the evening shift at Delta II walked off the job. Around 50 employees gathered at the gates, and the night shift continued the strike, effectively shutting down operations. As a result, trucks and vessels remained unserviced.

Although work resumed on February 11, productivity remains low. Reports show that workers are conducting slowdowns, reducing the number of container moves per hour and delaying vessel turnaround times.

Hutchison has confirmed that long wait times and delays in handling all forms of cargo are ongoing. The terminal had to close its gates twice on February 11 due to congestion.

Shipping giant Maersk informed customers that vessel operations are facing disruptions due to slow work rates at the terminal.

The company stated that the delays would greatly impact normal shipping schedules and that contingency measures would be introduced to protect supply chain reliability.

Customers with affected cargo will receive updates on schedule changes and alternative transport options.

Hutchison Ports issued a statement acknowledging the slowdown, stating that cargo handling delays were a result of ongoing labour actions. The company apologised to shippers but warned that wait times at the terminal would remain high.

Reference: World Cargo News